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This blog was created to showcase the works of artists around the world who paint primarily with the palette knife.

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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Two of my girlfriends gave painting lessons to their daughters as Christmas gifts, and guess who the teacher was? Me! The girls were charming and so great to be around. They did awesome and even got to do some of the painting with palette knives--I was so impressed.

One of my father's favorite stories was about the night he
and my mother (who were just courting at the time) went to a dance hall
in St. Louis to hear a live band play and dance the night away. My
mother worked as a secretary for a law firm and still lived at home with
my grandmother and grandfather. Every pay day she would go out and buy
herself a new outfit. Read more...

White Rose Medallions was a celebration, a class demonstration and an exercise in color freedom. The year is almost done, 2014 is right around the corner, and it's amazing how quickly time is going by now. I can remember when I was a child writing the year 1976 with my number 2 pencil in cursive on a lined notebook page for school. And feeling that that date was important, significant, the bicentennial of our country. The year 2013 was the half century celebration of my life. I am officially in my 50s, and in 2013 made the biggest decision of my life. Read more....

Winter Mix Peonies and Oranges is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, and my January workshop is coming up soon! Students are coming from South Carolina, Louisiana, Kansas, and Texas so I am planning a batch of extra special donuts for the travelers in the group. Although with the new Market Street (*sound of harps*) opening in Flower Mound, the pastries might be even fancier, if they survive the half hour trip in the car from home to the final destination. You may recall that tragic moment last year when I had the donut box open enroute, just to do a quality assurance check, of course,, and the whole box slid into the floor when I had to hit my breaks. Whomever said there is no crying in painting clearly never suffered the loss of an entire box of warm donuts.

My January workshop still has some seats open, so come on out and join us. Put a little joy in your brush and let's paint brilliant flowers together and ring in the New Year, while we're at it!

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Perched on a hilltop with its long curving driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Rows of soft wheat sway in the breeze and draw your eye back to the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with movement, color and dimension.

"Spring's Escape" and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

The energy is really popping out as I work. Music is humming along in the room and it feels good to be painting a piece this large. There are a lot of empty tubes of paint hitting the trash.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas

Five Gold RingsThe first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

You know what my favorite thing about doing pet portraits is? Well, there are two actually. One is how much the owner truly loves the pet. It is always so clear how much the animal is loved. The second thing is how much the eyes seem to convey of the animals spirit. My number one goal is always to try my best to get those eyes right because they truly are windows to the soul.

Today I took on the head of the horse trying out different color palettes.The paint is exciting now because of the thick build up occurring. As you can see, I wear gloves when I paint. I also have an air cleaner going in the room.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas

Four Calling BirdsThe Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

Taking a break from the studio to spend time with my family over the Christmas holidays has been rejuvenating. It may seem a little early to begin thinking about spring, but I'm already getting excited about planning my schedule. I received invitations to exhibit in the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in Houston, Texas and Southlake Art in the Square and I'm thrilled. They both rank at the top of the list of the best fine art festivals in the United States. I'll be participating in a few group exhibits this spring as well. Looking forward to the new year!

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Saturday, December 28, 2013

Lambeau was commissioned in October as a Christmas present. I was a bit nervous about doing his chain, but it turned out really well I thought. Love the dappled lighting too. I think this painting shows the spirit of a very well-loved companion.

I took a little break from peonies this evening to paint one of my favorite visitors to Mom's feeder, the red Cardinal. Each time I arrive at the farm in East Texas, the first thing I do is refill the feeders and replenish the woodpeckers with homemade suet. The horses always stand at the fence and snuffle and whinny until I give them each a big bite of the peanut butter infused suet. I think this is their absolute favorite treat.

There truly is excitement for me as an artist at this point in the painting. You have three layers beginning to work together. You are constantly reminded of life and the weave of experiences in our every day existence.

Last week my escape from winter was the
sunflowers of Provence. This week it is the poppies. I have completed
four paintings in the last couple of days - admittedly small ones but it
meant I could squeeze in some painting time.
They are all of the sameish? (is that a word!) scene as my larger painting "Scarlet Poppies".

I've been painting a plethora of peonies in whites and pinks this holiday season, and brainstorming ways to say thanks to everyone who has walked with me on my art journey this year. This has been my first year as a full time artist, and the excitement, enthusiasm and energy of my students, collectors and friends has been an unexpected benefit of this new job of mine. As my thanks, I've already given away two original oil paintings on my Facebook fan page this month. But I've saved the biggest giveaway of the year for last - visit my art blog today to find out how you can enter and win!

Inspired by our travels to Provence, I painted these cheerful sunflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife so that the resulting image leaps off the canvas and is loaded with energy, color and texture.

"Surrounded by Sunshine" and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

It's a quiet Christmas eve in Flower Mound Studio, the footheaters are keeping everypuggy warm and toasty, the hubby is on the couch with Hannah the Pug nearby, and I'm getting ready to fix a coffee with Caramel creamer to keep my brushes going strong until midnight. My senior pug, Java, got to open a present early tonight, his new orthopedic mattress, which he immediately dove into, rolling about and expressing his appreciation with snorfley noises and his own little gray faced smile. I have so much to be thankful for this year, to have a loving family and awesome husband, sweet little four footed helpers who make me laugh every day, a DREAM job I love as a full-time artist, and having my Mom nearby. I hope you have a peaceful holiday planned with loved ones close. May all your fondest wishes come true, and may your mocha coffee always have extra whippy creme in 2014!

This contemporary rooster was a commission for a Dallas collector who asked me to paint a colorful rooster. It was fun working with him, choosing the color palette, the canvas size, the subject matter...creating just the right image...it was a Christmas gift to his wife. Mister Rooster has color, texture and personality! I know that this rooster will love his new home. Here are a few photos of the painting....as it went through different stages.

As you can see, I started with a drawing in charcoal, then started covering the canvas with paint. Layers and layers of paint went on with a wide brush and then the palette knife. The palette knife allows the paint to be applied with texture and gives the painting depth. Feathers were added giving Mister Rooster volume and a full body. Details in the eye were important. Touches of color implying wildflowers were put in the grass. Thanks for looking at this blog and the art posted.

Contact me if you are interested in purchasing art for your home or office. Thanks, Kay